Liverpool have not made any contact with Aston Villa regarding the possibility of a January move for Darren Bent, ESPN understands.

Bent, 28, has suffered a frustrating season at Villa Park, losing his place in the starting line-up, as well as the club captaincy, and could be open to a move elsewhere.

The England international has reportedly been on Liverpool's radar for some time and manager Brendan Rodgers has made it clear he wants at least one new striker in January to help deal with his side's current lack of options up front.

However, ESPN has discovered that there has not been any direct contact between the two clubs, while the word from Villa is that Bent is not for sale.

The Midlands club splashed out £18 million, breaking their transfer record, in order to bring in Bent from Sunderland and have no intention of selling him on the cheap.

With Liverpool not able to stump up the necessary cash for Clint Dempsey on transfer deadline day, Villa are not anticipating any sort of bid for the striker that is likely to turn their heads.

Bent is just one of a number of players Liverpool have been linked with since Rodgers revealed last week that he will be looking to bolster his strikeforce in January.